What you see here is is a 1946 Harley Davidson WR. You wont probably see it anywhere else on the planet except a certain place from (of course) where this photo has been taken. So if you go to that certain place to have a look at this motorcycle, you better go well prepared. And that should include having a good health check up, getting the nod from your physician and ofcourse something called belief. Because that certain place is the harem of comedian Jay Leno and it is famously called as Jay Leno's Garage. The reason for having a sound health is because if you have a weak heart, you will most definitely faint once you enter the garage and why the belief factor? Well, would you believe it if any single human being on earth who is not a distributor nor any brand owner or founder can have a diverse portfolio of bikes in a garage that would put to shame any classic gathering anywhere on earth? It's not just the diversity, it is also the pure number of bikes this guy has in the garage that is really stunning. And we are not even talking about the cars and a lot of variants that occupy his garage. I think even Mr. Honda or Mr. Agusta or Mr. Ducati would have a complex. How can anyone NOT have a complex?

This 1946 Harley-Davidson WR has been very recently acquired by Leno on August 10, 2009. Despite a seemingly low 40 hp, the WR weighs only 350 pounds and has tons of low end torque, making it drive like "a pit bull on a leash," according to Jay.

I tell you its one bad God has done by giving Jay Leno so much money, the worse is that Jay Leno's garage is for public viewing and so imagine the envy he is generating from all of us bikers. All these negative energy... I tell you... is not good. Actually it is not for public viewing like you know buying tickets and all, it is just that Leno has been kind enough to allow many a bike expert and critic enter the hallowed garage and give us a first hand experiemce of how does it like to feel to be physically present between so many legendary icons. And with his website, he has kind of made his garage 'public' and a huge thanks to Leno for that.

At least, through him, we get to see some really rare bikes. There are some HDs in the garage. One of these HD is the even rarer 1927 Harley-Davidson JDwhich he acquired 2 years back on June 4, 2007. The JD sported the first of Harley-Davidsons 74 cubic inch V-twins.

The other mentionable HD in his collection is the Elvis Bike. This special edition limited series Harley is Elvis Presley 30th Anniversary Signature Harley and each of the bike comes with its own limited edition artwork. He acquired the bike on November 19, 2007. Dont get surprised by how I got to know the dates as they are all given on the website by the text adjusting to each bike. I didn't even knew that such a bike existed. So how many motorcycles do you think Leno owns? 'About' 80 motorcycles and counting! make that 81 including the new HD he got 2 days back. Well, maybe he got another one today. So who is counting, not Leno, so its 'about' 80. This has got to be visual gratification of the highest order. Of course I couldn't feature all of them and from the ones not here ranges from a 1976 Hercules Wankel 2000 to a 1967 Munch Mammoth and everything in between. And the beauty of the garage is that everything is in pristine condition and everything runs! as Leno says “What’s the fun of it if you can’t drive it?”

Moving on to bigger things from the HD... and coming to some real vintage legends. Vincents, Brough Superiors, Indians, JAP... you name it, he has it. And like any other obsessed bike collector, he dots on Vincents. The only difference is just that he has lots of them. Vincent Black Shadow acquired on October 15, 2007. You know everything about the Black Shadow, right? as this hand built motorcycle was “the world’s fastest standard motorcycle.” He increased his Vincent collection in September 8, 2008 by getting a 1955 Vincent Black Knight. According to Jay, the futuristic Black Knight is the official vehicle of the Thought Police in the film, "1984." Well, that he is never satisfied, so he added another Vincent to his collection. He owns a 1939 Vincent HRD Series A Rapidewhich he acquired on March 2, 2009. According to Jay "Although the Series A Rapide was made in the late 1930s, it still offers a smooth ride on the freeway at 80 mph."

The size of the building of the ‘garage’ is hundred thousand square feet. All the Vincents as you can see are in pristine condition. You must be aware that the Vincent Black Knight is very very rare. Other bikes which you don’t get to see in the website is a 1988 Ducati 750 Paso Limited, a recently bought Buell, a Harley Dresser, a Ninja ZX-14, which he had to own owing to the fact that the Ninja is currently the fastest production motorcycle. Are you even counting the number of bikes alreday mentioned. Well, we are just starting off.

There are also a lot of things in the garage which doesn’t fit into the 2 3 4 wheeler categories like 19th and 20th century steam engines in perfect running order and it seems he keeps all his machines on check just to hear them when he wants to. So sweet!

Okay to continue the count, we have two restored 1958 BSA Gold to add up with the legendary 1934 Norton ES2, There are several motorized bicycles and of course how can you forget the MVs. There are 2 of them one new, one old.

He also has his own work station where restoration of various models are constantly going on, with a section dealing with shipment where various parts and accessories are being ordered and received from all over the world. Of course for such an extensive workshop, he has a full time staff working on it. Seven of them. Okay, moving on to some more iconic stuff...

Above what you see is ofcourse the legendary Henderson KJ. In my whole life I have only seen one Henderson, let alone ride it. This 1931 Henderson KJwas acquired on March 10, 2008. A favorite among police officers, the KJ has a "telltale" speedometer to help nail speeders. Guess how he got this Henderson? Well, one day, he recieved a call from a old man who was 92 and he was getting his divorce, so he wanted to sell the bike. Lucky! Damn lucky!

This 1933 Indian Four was bought on February 16, 2009. The Indian is America's oldest motorcycle brand and was once the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. They are coming back in a grand way with new products but are terribly expensive costing almost 40 grand. There is a 1923 Megola Sport Racer. You got to take a look at the link. The machine has its radial engine mounted inside the spokes of the front wheel, with the crankshaft mounted hard to the fork so that the engine rotates with the wheel. It makes a gyroscopic effect of the rotating engine mass inside the front wheel which aids the rider with its natural tendency to right itself.

How can a collector call himself a collector if he doesn't have a Brough Superior? Well, Leno says he doesn't want anyone calling him a collector, but he is and he has a Brough Superior. He got a 1930 Brough Superior SS100 on November 3, 2008. It not that he has only one of them, but you guessed that right? Dont know exactly how many he has them but he is in absolute awe of this legend and mentions "the best looking gas tank in the history of motorcycles."

Leno purchased his first motorcycle in college and it was a second-hand 1967 Honda CB350. His second bike came in pretty late when he started making his career and got himself a brand new Honda CBX in 1979, but replaced it with a 1981 model with the insurance money he got after crashing the 79 CBX. Leno still owns the bike.

But it's not just British and American classic bikes that Leno is interested in. He has quite a few Japanese bikes in his stable too. Remember his first bike was a Honda and his first brand new bike (the 1981 CBX, actually it was his third bike overall) is still with him. He got the above beautiful 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustleron April 14, 2008. In a cloud of blue smoke and just touching 100 mph. this bike could take on Triumphs and Harleys during it's day.

He got this beautiful 1975 Suzuki RE5 on March 31, 2008. The RE5 is a smooth-riding alternative to piston power, with no camshafts, intake or exhaust valves. I am sure you know Suzuki is the only Jap company to come out with a ritary or Wankel engine and this was their only model. The model however failed as customers were not keen to try out new technologies.One thing is obvious; he is not just a show-off celebrity having lots of money and so buying bikes randomly to make a statement. That is, I would say and repeat, is obvious. This guy REALLY LOVES engines. He respects the machines, he knows these machines, in details and not just that, he goes into the history of the brand also.

And this is the famous Honda Superhawk. He got Mid-60's Honda 305 Superhawk on February 12, 2007. This is the same bike Robert M. Pirsig refers to throughout his 1974 bestselling book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." You can’t see it here, but beside the Honda 305 (with the original Honda wing decal on the tank) stands an immaculate Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica.

I don’t know why it is not called as a museum probably because museum doesn’t have this kind of variety, what else can be any other reason? There is a post on Motorcycle dot comwhere you can have a look at some of the models and while at it, take a look around, I mean at the surroundings and walls, even they are so nicely decorated, and this is really amazing. The walls have reproduced ads from vintage magazines and work by famed artist, framed newspaper clips of old racing news, pictures of racing legends, old manufacturer signage, etc. The garage also has antique toys and models.

There are two unique motorcycles which I have never heard about before. One of them is the 1924 Ace Motorcyclethat Leno got on November 27, 2006 and the other is the 1918 Pope Motorcyclewhich he got after one year on November 05, 2007. While the Ace motorcycle looks somewhat similar to the Cyclone Board Track Racer, the Pope seems to be under restoration from the photos but Jay mentions With little by way of brakes, the Pope rides perfectly at 45, but it gets a little scary around 70. Jay's Ace was crafted in 1924, the same year the company was forced to close due to financial difficulties.

He doesn’t deny that he plays favoritism toward the vintage and classic marques. He likes his bikes to be dramatic, larger than life images. His specially prefers bikes that were ahead of its time. He says new generation bikes couldn’t be fiddled with, you know tweaking the carbs and all, and that helps the biker learn more of the bike. Today’s bike already comes with so much power and new tech like fuel injection and all that for a non-expert mechanic, it just might turn uglier if one plays with the engine system.

Of course there are some uncommon modern bikes too in his garage. Like what we have here, this is the S&S Mobil 1 Motorcycle that he purchages on January 7, 2008. This is a custom-built, S&S Cycle V-Twin-powered muscle bike, which Exxon Mobil 1 commissioned specifically as a one-off custom for Leno in honour of their long association with him. The bike is laden with the company’s new proprietary X-Wedge powerplant. The engine is a new generation, 117 cubic-inch air-cooled, pushrod V-Twin engine designed for performance while meeting progressively more stringent emission standards.It has a muscle bike platform the genes of an American flat tracker. Wide bars, upright seating position, forward-mounted pegs reflects more of a cruiser though. But with a rake of 28 degreestubular frame and a wheelbase of 63.2 inches puts it onto sportbike territory. All the best brands, Brembo, Ohlins are available on this bike.The other bike you see with leno on it is the 2009 Zero Motorcycles Zero S that he got on June 8, 2009. This clutchless one-speed has a total weight of 225 pounds and charges in less than four hours. It's essentially a fun bike for him, that is, but of course this is the future od every engine.

Yes, he is heavily into classic bikes, but his love for motorcycles spills over all time period. He loves new jet age bikes as much, if not more, than the classic and vintage legends. We already know he has a MV Agusta, a Ninja and other modern bikes in his garage. But what good a garage is if it doesn't have a Ducati? So, one fine morning on June 2, 2008, he gets himself a Ducati Desmosedici RR, yes, the very best only works for Mr. Leno. Just so that if you have to know, this Race Replica is worth $72,500. But the Ducati would feel so lonely there right, so he added a Gixxer for company. So recently on July 6, 2009, he bought a 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000.

But as mentioned, his passion for engines doesn’t just end with 2 wheelers. He has over 100 vintage and classic 4 wheelers, from a 1912 Stanley Steamer to a rare 1964 Studebaker Avanti. Early electric vehicles, American muscle cars, rare European sports cars, all standing with a 1955 Buick Roadmaster, his most priced possession as this was his first car bought in the early 70s which he got for $350 through a newspaper ad. Of course, now it has been fully restored into something much more than what it originally came with. The garage was started in 1991.

Visit the website on Jay Leno's Garage. Besides the wondeful display of vehicles, there are lots of videos on the right panel of the screen. Enjoy them. All photos in the post are credited to the website.

There is also a post on Motorcycle dot comwhich I am sure you will enjoy. You will also find lot of images there. Source of information of the details of his garage has been sourced from the motorcycle website.

What you see here is is a 1946 Harley Davidson WR. You wont probably see it anywhere else on the planet except a certain place from (of course) where this photo has been taken. So if you go to that certain place to have a look at this motorcycle, you better go well prepared. And that should include having a good health check up, getting the nod from your physician and ofcourse something called belief. Because that certain place is the harem of comedian Jay Leno and it is famously called as Jay Leno's Garage. The reason for having a sound health is because if you have a weak heart, you will most definitely faint once you enter the garage and why the belief factor? Well, would you believe it if any single human being on earth who is not a distributor nor any brand owner or founder can have a diverse portfolio of bikes in a garage that would put to shame any classic gathering anywhere on earth? It's not just the diversity, it is also the pure number of bikes this guy has in the garage that is really stunning. And we are not even talking about the cars and a lot of variants that occupy his garage. I think even Mr. Honda or Mr. Agusta or Mr. Ducati would have a complex. How can anyone NOT have a complex?

This 1946 Harley-Davidson WR has been very recently acquired by Leno on August 10, 2009. Despite a seemingly low 40 hp, the WR weighs only 350 pounds and has tons of low end torque, making it drive like "a pit bull on a leash," according to Jay.

I tell you its one bad God has done by giving Jay Leno so much money, the worse is that Jay Leno's garage is for public viewing and so imagine the envy he is generating from all of us bikers. All these negative energy... I tell you... is not good. Actually it is not for public viewing like you know buying tickets and all, it is just that Leno has been kind enough to allow many a bike expert and critic enter the hallowed garage and give us a first hand experiemce of how does it like to feel to be physically present between so many legendary icons. And with his website, he has kind of made his garage 'public' and a huge thanks to Leno for that.

At least, through him, we get to see some really rare bikes. There are some HDs in the garage. One of these HD is the even rarer 1927 Harley-Davidson JDwhich he acquired 2 years back on June 4, 2007. The JD sported the first of Harley-Davidsons 74 cubic inch V-twins.

The other mentionable HD in his collection is the Elvis Bike. This special edition limited series Harley is Elvis Presley 30th Anniversary Signature Harley and each of the bike comes with its own limited edition artwork. He acquired the bike on November 19, 2007. Dont get surprised by how I got to know the dates as they are all given on the website by the text adjusting to each bike. I didn't even knew that such a bike existed. So how many motorcycles do you think Leno owns? 'About' 80 motorcycles and counting! make that 81 including the new HD he got 2 days back. Well, maybe he got another one today. So who is counting, not Leno, so its 'about' 80. This has got to be visual gratification of the highest order. Of course I couldn't feature all of them and from the ones not here ranges from a 1976 Hercules Wankel 2000 to a 1967 Munch Mammoth and everything in between. And the beauty of the garage is that everything is in pristine condition and everything runs! as Leno says “What’s the fun of it if you can’t drive it?”

Moving on to bigger things from the HD... and coming to some real vintage legends. Vincents, Brough Superiors, Indians, JAP... you name it, he has it. And like any other obsessed bike collector, he dots on Vincents. The only difference is just that he has lots of them. Vincent Black Shadow acquired on October 15, 2007. You know everything about the Black Shadow, right? as this hand built motorcycle was “the world’s fastest standard motorcycle.” He increased his Vincent collection in September 8, 2008 by getting a 1955 Vincent Black Knight. According to Jay, the futuristic Black Knight is the official vehicle of the Thought Police in the film, "1984." Well, that he is never satisfied, so he added another Vincent to his collection. He owns a 1939 Vincent HRD Series A Rapidewhich he acquired on March 2, 2009. According to Jay "Although the Series A Rapide was made in the late 1930s, it still offers a smooth ride on the freeway at 80 mph."

The size of the building of the ‘garage’ is hundred thousand square feet. All the Vincents as you can see are in pristine condition. You must be aware that the Vincent Black Knight is very very rare. Other bikes which you don’t get to see in the website is a 1988 Ducati 750 Paso Limited, a recently bought Buell, a Harley Dresser, a Ninja ZX-14, which he had to own owing to the fact that the Ninja is currently the fastest production motorcycle. Are you even counting the number of bikes alreday mentioned. Well, we are just starting off.

There are also a lot of things in the garage which doesn’t fit into the 2 3 4 wheeler categories like 19th and 20th century steam engines in perfect running order and it seems he keeps all his machines on check just to hear them when he wants to. So sweet!

Okay to continue the count, we have two restored 1958 BSA Gold to add up with the legendary 1934 Norton ES2, There are several motorized bicycles and of course how can you forget the MVs. There are 2 of them one new, one old.

He also has his own work station where restoration of various models are constantly going on, with a section dealing with shipment where various parts and accessories are being ordered and received from all over the world. Of course for such an extensive workshop, he has a full time staff working on it. Seven of them. Okay, moving on to some more iconic stuff...

Above what you see is ofcourse the legendary Henderson KJ. In my whole life I have only seen one Henderson, let alone ride it. This 1931 Henderson KJwas acquired on March 10, 2008. A favorite among police officers, the KJ has a "telltale" speedometer to help nail speeders. Guess how he got this Henderson? Well, one day, he recieved a call from a old man who was 92 and he was getting his divorce, so he wanted to sell the bike. Lucky! Damn lucky!

This 1933 Indian Four was bought on February 16, 2009. The Indian is America's oldest motorcycle brand and was once the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. They are coming back in a grand way with new products but are terribly expensive costing almost 40 grand. There is a 1923 Megola Sport Racer. You got to take a look at the link. The machine has its radial engine mounted inside the spokes of the front wheel, with the crankshaft mounted hard to the fork so that the engine rotates with the wheel. It makes a gyroscopic effect of the rotating engine mass inside the front wheel which aids the rider with its natural tendency to right itself.

How can a collector call himself a collector if he doesn't have a Brough Superior? Well, Leno says he doesn't want anyone calling him a collector, but he is and he has a Brough Superior. He got a 1930 Brough Superior SS100 on November 3, 2008. It not that he has only one of them, but you guessed that right? Dont know exactly how many he has them but he is in absolute awe of this legend and mentions "the best looking gas tank in the history of motorcycles."

Leno purchased his first motorcycle in college and it was a second-hand 1967 Honda CB350. His second bike came in pretty late when he started making his career and got himself a brand new Honda CBX in 1979, but replaced it with a 1981 model with the insurance money he got after crashing the 79 CBX. Leno still owns the bike.

But it's not just British and American classic bikes that Leno is interested in. He has quite a few Japanese bikes in his stable too. Remember his first bike was a Honda and his first brand new bike (the 1981 CBX, actually it was his third bike overall) is still with him. He got the above beautiful 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustleron April 14, 2008. In a cloud of blue smoke and just touching 100 mph. this bike could take on Triumphs and Harleys during it's day.

He got this beautiful 1975 Suzuki RE5 on March 31, 2008. The RE5 is a smooth-riding alternative to piston power, with no camshafts, intake or exhaust valves. I am sure you know Suzuki is the only Jap company to come out with a ritary or Wankel engine and this was their only model. The model however failed as customers were not keen to try out new technologies.One thing is obvious; he is not just a show-off celebrity having lots of money and so buying bikes randomly to make a statement. That is, I would say and repeat, is obvious. This guy REALLY LOVES engines. He respects the machines, he knows these machines, in details and not just that, he goes into the history of the brand also.

And this is the famous Honda Superhawk. He got Mid-60's Honda 305 Superhawk on February 12, 2007. This is the same bike Robert M. Pirsig refers to throughout his 1974 bestselling book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." You can’t see it here, but beside the Honda 305 (with the original Honda wing decal on the tank) stands an immaculate Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica.

I don’t know why it is not called as a museum probably because museum doesn’t have this kind of variety, what else can be any other reason? There is a post on Motorcycle dot comwhere you can have a look at some of the models and while at it, take a look around, I mean at the surroundings and walls, even they are so nicely decorated, and this is really amazing. The walls have reproduced ads from vintage magazines and work by famed artist, framed newspaper clips of old racing news, pictures of racing legends, old manufacturer signage, etc. The garage also has antique toys and models.

There are two unique motorcycles which I have never heard about before. One of them is the 1924 Ace Motorcyclethat Leno got on November 27, 2006 and the other is the 1918 Pope Motorcyclewhich he got after one year on November 05, 2007. While the Ace motorcycle looks somewhat similar to the Cyclone Board Track Racer, the Pope seems to be under restoration from the photos but Jay mentions With little by way of brakes, the Pope rides perfectly at 45, but it gets a little scary around 70. Jay's Ace was crafted in 1924, the same year the company was forced to close due to financial difficulties.

He doesn’t deny that he plays favoritism toward the vintage and classic marques. He likes his bikes to be dramatic, larger than life images. His specially prefers bikes that were ahead of its time. He says new generation bikes couldn’t be fiddled with, you know tweaking the carbs and all, and that helps the biker learn more of the bike. Today’s bike already comes with so much power and new tech like fuel injection and all that for a non-expert mechanic, it just might turn uglier if one plays with the engine system.

Of course there are some uncommon modern bikes too in his garage. Like what we have here, this is the S&S Mobil 1 Motorcycle that he purchages on January 7, 2008. This is a custom-built, S&S Cycle V-Twin-powered muscle bike, which Exxon Mobil 1 commissioned specifically as a one-off custom for Leno in honour of their long association with him. The bike is laden with the company’s new proprietary X-Wedge powerplant. The engine is a new generation, 117 cubic-inch air-cooled, pushrod V-Twin engine designed for performance while meeting progressively more stringent emission standards.It has a muscle bike platform the genes of an American flat tracker. Wide bars, upright seating position, forward-mounted pegs reflects more of a cruiser though. But with a rake of 28 degreestubular frame and a wheelbase of 63.2 inches puts it onto sportbike territory. All the best brands, Brembo, Ohlins are available on this bike.The other bike you see with leno on it is the 2009 Zero Motorcycles Zero S that he got on June 8, 2009. This clutchless one-speed has a total weight of 225 pounds and charges in less than four hours. It's essentially a fun bike for him, that is, but of course this is the future od every engine.

Yes, he is heavily into classic bikes, but his love for motorcycles spills over all time period. He loves new jet age bikes as much, if not more, than the classic and vintage legends. We already know he has a MV Agusta, a Ninja and other modern bikes in his garage. But what good a garage is if it doesn't have a Ducati? So, one fine morning on June 2, 2008, he gets himself a Ducati Desmosedici RR, yes, the very best only works for Mr. Leno. Just so that if you have to know, this Race Replica is worth $72,500. But the Ducati would feel so lonely there right, so he added a Gixxer for company. So recently on July 6, 2009, he bought a 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000.

But as mentioned, his passion for engines doesn’t just end with 2 wheelers. He has over 100 vintage and classic 4 wheelers, from a 1912 Stanley Steamer to a rare 1964 Studebaker Avanti. Early electric vehicles, American muscle cars, rare European sports cars, all standing with a 1955 Buick Roadmaster, his most priced possession as this was his first car bought in the early 70s which he got for $350 through a newspaper ad. Of course, now it has been fully restored into something much more than what it originally came with. The garage was started in 1991.

Visit the website on Jay Leno's Garage. Besides the wondeful display of vehicles, there are lots of videos on the right panel of the screen. Enjoy them. All photos in the post are credited to the website.

There is also a post on Motorcycle dot comwhich I am sure you will enjoy. You will also find lot of images there. Source of information of the details of his garage has been sourced from the motorcycle website.

When passion rules the game! Yes, that is a Scorpion classic and that is what a small outfit that started out as a result of pure passion is now shaping up to. Vardenchi. A group of passionate bikers lead by Akshai Varde from Mumbai, India has rapidly turned heads in India with their iconic designing. You might remember the name from a previous post. In a resource limited country (nice word I picked up working in public health), where to put your passion into artful craftsmanship, you have to rely on only a single brand (read Royal Enfield), Akshai and his talented band has churned out many artful designs on the Royal Enfield each distinctively different from each other. To view some models, visit their website. And then take a look at their blog to see their new creation, Vedic Chopper, it will blow you away! The photos are all there, will definitely post the chopper if I get some more info on the bike. NowVardenchi is a full fledged custom motorcycle manufacturing company. And similar to their famous cousins in U.S who designs for Hollywood stars, Vardenchi is quite popular among Bollywood stars. Jackie Shroff, a former Bollywood hero had approached Akshai to design a bike in the form of a skeleton after he saw a similar bike on the net. And what you see here is the end result. An example of how to create an obnoxious concept into a stunning visual delight.

Jackie with his bike, the Vardenchi Ghost Rider bike and the bike which Jackie saw

Vardenchi has created a ‘skull’ bike on the lines of the bike that Hollywood star Nicolas Cage rides in Ghost Rider. So I believe that they did have a head start. But that’s the negativity of it. Making a onetime concept is something, improving on it and that too this dramatically… now that’s real talent.Akshai says "At Vardenchi our philosophy is quality first. It may sound very clichéd but it is the fact. Back in the day when we had just begun I vowed to build to the most spectacular rides the country has ever seen, and along the way I have learnt the importance of many other factors that go into creating the perfect ride like comfort and ride appeal. Today all aspects of customization of the motorcycles is looked into and we hope to create a custom motorcycle that will be world renowned and put India on the map in one more field."

Like all custom bike builders, there are some basics Vardenchi always follows. Their technical uniqueness is the single sided swingarm with integrated disc brakes and the belt drive. If you know India, you will know that besides Royal Enfield, the biggest bike in terms of ‘cc’ that is completely made in India is the Bajaj Pulsar 220, a 220cc single cylinder engine. The Royal Enfield stable horses are not much different either when it’s about the machine as all are single cylinder air cooled 2 valve engines with twin suspensions at the back. A throwback at the 60s… Aah! And that’s the reason why we really need to even more acknowledge Vardenchi’s work as they have to make everything in house, they cannot out source anything even the paint or the cost would get sky rocketed. The Vardenchi choppers are a perfect blend of classic and new age motorcycles. They will provide you with such a range of varied styling options that you will feel like a young boy at the candy store. You can just tell the gang on your preferences and the bike will be probably better than what you had conceptualized. There will be only one thing similar, the distinctive styling of Vardenchi.

They use the finest qualities of paint and chrome available to give that world class finish to the motorcycles. The client is kept in very close interaction during the entire process of design and building.As for the Skeletor, Akshai says “This is by far one of the craziest builds we have done. Took us 3 months to complete this ride and it was one hell of a time. We started on the base of a Vardenchi Classic with a two arm swinger in the back and a decent rake in the front end. What we did after was the nightmare. The skeleton actually has an inner skeleton made of metal wires and plates. This was then wrapped around with cloth for bulk. For the detail in the finish we had to cover the cloth with a layer of Plaster of paris. We then carefully carved out the details in the plaster of paris to get it to look very realistic. It took hours and hours of creative labor to get us there. For a hard outer layer and to prevent any damage to the POP we then applied a coat of fibre glass hardening compound. This is what gave it the smooth bone like look. Again hours of grinding and and finishing were required to get the effect close to the real thing. The reference we were given was a pretty similar bike but when we looked at is closely it had no front suspension and no rear chain drive. So essentially it was a dummy. For us the challenge was to get skeletor to ride. So we put pivot points in the arms which come down along the forward suspension which allowed for movement during suspension. The final look during a run was so wild it looked like the skeletor was actually on the road, running! We gave the skeleton a final finish of a metal matte silver paint job. And he was ready to go. I’ve never got so many stares on a motorcycle before.”

Akshai Varde adds "We took the engine of a Royal Enfield Thunderbird and began creating the skeleton with a rough framework of metal structure. Several layers of plaster of Paris packed with fibre glass compound created the fine look of dry bone on the bike's surface. After days of work, we had the beginnings of a skeleton. The silver finish is unique as it is neither gloss nor matte but seems as if it was cast from aluminium. The hands and legs have pivot joints so that when the rider rides it, the bike gives an impression of a galloping skeleton. The final touch was the LED light in the skull's eyes so that we could scare people at night. The bike is a lot of fun to ride and gets more stares than you can imagine."Way to go Akshai and your band of bikers Vardenchi. The thing about this Skeletor is that you must have seen a few bikes with the same concept, but this actually is a beautiful bike. It really is. It has all the look of a chopper and it also has the concept allthrough the bike. It really is a beautiful fusion. I mean you can either make a beautiful cjopper or else make a beautiful bike in the form of a skeleton. It’s the fusion that is really enthralling.Also a special note to from where I got the pictures. XBHP is a motorcycle forum which has its roots in India. This article had appeared in a link on the forum. Here is the original post. Sunny or Sundeep Gajjar, the man behind XBHP, is the guy who took the photos. He is an amazing photographer and one just can’t ignore, but mention his beautiful photography. Is it really his photography or the bike I don’t know, maybe both, but the Skeletor is one definite stunner.Visit Vardenchi to know more about their work. Here and here are 2 links to posts about the bike with Jackie Shroff.

When passion rules the game! Yes, that is a Scorpion classic and that is what a small outfit that started out as a result of pure passion is now shaping up to. Vardenchi. A group of passionate bikers lead by Akshai Varde from Mumbai, India has rapidly turned heads in India with their iconic designing. You might remember the name from a previous post. In a resource limited country (nice word I picked up working in public health), where to put your passion into artful craftsmanship, you have to rely on only a single brand (read Royal Enfield), Akshai and his talented band has churned out many artful designs on the Royal Enfield each distinctively different from each other. To view some models, visit their website. And then take a look at their blog to see their new creation, Vedic Chopper, it will blow you away! The photos are all there, will definitely post the chopper if I get some more info on the bike. NowVardenchi is a full fledged custom motorcycle manufacturing company. And similar to their famous cousins in U.S who designs for Hollywood stars, Vardenchi is quite popular among Bollywood stars. Jackie Shroff, a former Bollywood hero had approached Akshai to design a bike in the form of a skeleton after he saw a similar bike on the net. And what you see here is the end result. An example of how to create an obnoxious concept into a stunning visual delight.

Jackie with his bike, the Vardenchi Ghost Rider bike and the bike which Jackie saw

Vardenchi has created a ‘skull’ bike on the lines of the bike that Hollywood star Nicolas Cage rides in Ghost Rider. So I believe that they did have a head start. But that’s the negativity of it. Making a onetime concept is something, improving on it and that too this dramatically… now that’s real talent.Akshai says "At Vardenchi our philosophy is quality first. It may sound very clichéd but it is the fact. Back in the day when we had just begun I vowed to build to the most spectacular rides the country has ever seen, and along the way I have learnt the importance of many other factors that go into creating the perfect ride like comfort and ride appeal. Today all aspects of customization of the motorcycles is looked into and we hope to create a custom motorcycle that will be world renowned and put India on the map in one more field."

Like all custom bike builders, there are some basics Vardenchi always follows. Their technical uniqueness is the single sided swingarm with integrated disc brakes and the belt drive. If you know India, you will know that besides Royal Enfield, the biggest bike in terms of ‘cc’ that is completely made in India is the Bajaj Pulsar 220, a 220cc single cylinder engine. The Royal Enfield stable horses are not much different either when it’s about the machine as all are single cylinder air cooled 2 valve engines with twin suspensions at the back. A throwback at the 60s… Aah! And that’s the reason why we really need to even more acknowledge Vardenchi’s work as they have to make everything in house, they cannot out source anything even the paint or the cost would get sky rocketed. The Vardenchi choppers are a perfect blend of classic and new age motorcycles. They will provide you with such a range of varied styling options that you will feel like a young boy at the candy store. You can just tell the gang on your preferences and the bike will be probably better than what you had conceptualized. There will be only one thing similar, the distinctive styling of Vardenchi.

They use the finest qualities of paint and chrome available to give that world class finish to the motorcycles. The client is kept in very close interaction during the entire process of design and building.As for the Skeletor, Akshai says “This is by far one of the craziest builds we have done. Took us 3 months to complete this ride and it was one hell of a time. We started on the base of a Vardenchi Classic with a two arm swinger in the back and a decent rake in the front end. What we did after was the nightmare. The skeleton actually has an inner skeleton made of metal wires and plates. This was then wrapped around with cloth for bulk. For the detail in the finish we had to cover the cloth with a layer of Plaster of paris. We then carefully carved out the details in the plaster of paris to get it to look very realistic. It took hours and hours of creative labor to get us there. For a hard outer layer and to prevent any damage to the POP we then applied a coat of fibre glass hardening compound. This is what gave it the smooth bone like look. Again hours of grinding and and finishing were required to get the effect close to the real thing. The reference we were given was a pretty similar bike but when we looked at is closely it had no front suspension and no rear chain drive. So essentially it was a dummy. For us the challenge was to get skeletor to ride. So we put pivot points in the arms which come down along the forward suspension which allowed for movement during suspension. The final look during a run was so wild it looked like the skeletor was actually on the road, running! We gave the skeleton a final finish of a metal matte silver paint job. And he was ready to go. I’ve never got so many stares on a motorcycle before.”

Akshai Varde adds "We took the engine of a Royal Enfield Thunderbird and began creating the skeleton with a rough framework of metal structure. Several layers of plaster of Paris packed with fibre glass compound created the fine look of dry bone on the bike's surface. After days of work, we had the beginnings of a skeleton. The silver finish is unique as it is neither gloss nor matte but seems as if it was cast from aluminium. The hands and legs have pivot joints so that when the rider rides it, the bike gives an impression of a galloping skeleton. The final touch was the LED light in the skull's eyes so that we could scare people at night. The bike is a lot of fun to ride and gets more stares than you can imagine."Way to go Akshai and your band of bikers Vardenchi. The thing about this Skeletor is that you must have seen a few bikes with the same concept, but this actually is a beautiful bike. It really is. It has all the look of a chopper and it also has the concept allthrough the bike. It really is a beautiful fusion. I mean you can either make a beautiful cjopper or else make a beautiful bike in the form of a skeleton. It’s the fusion that is really enthralling.Also a special note to from where I got the pictures. XBHP is a motorcycle forum which has its roots in India. This article had appeared in a link on the forum. Here is the original post. Sunny or Sundeep Gajjar, the man behind XBHP, is the guy who took the photos. He is an amazing photographer and one just can’t ignore, but mention his beautiful photography. Is it really his photography or the bike I don’t know, maybe both, but the Skeletor is one definite stunner.Visit Vardenchi to know more about their work. Here and here are 2 links to posts about the bike with Jackie Shroff.

A few Hollywood Stars are known for their penchant for motorcycles. It's difficult for them to go riding like us, none the less occasionally and often sniping out. Well, what they lack in privacy, they make up by buying exotics. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and George Clooney are known to be bikers, well while Pitt and Clooney are more into riding, Tom like Jay Leno is more into collecting bikes. Here are some photos of Hollywood stars showing off their priced posessions. Also requesting if someone would have more photos or link so such a post, please send them over (my email is at the bottom of the page) so that I could add to these.

Tom Cruise on a Confederate Hellcat and on the Honda Rune (with wife Katie Holmes)

Keanu Reeves on a Norton Commander and a customized Harley DavidsonBen Affeck on a Suzuki Gixxer and George Clooney on his customized Harley DavidsonBrad Pitt on his customized Harley Davidson and Ecosse HereticJim Carrey on a Harley Davidson and Heidi Klum posing on a Harley CVOAbove 2 pics courtesy Double Oh Two. Thats Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana on DEUS customized bikes. Well, one is ofcourse the Monster, my guess on the second is a Speed Triple.

Correction - The bike Orlando Bloom is riding is not actually a Triumph Triple as I guessed, it's a SR500. I recieved a mail from BIKE EXIFmain man Chris Hunter where he mentioned that "It's a very heavily customized Yamaha SR500 rather than a Street Triple, and the first Deus bike to end up in the USA." For a detail on the bike, visit the DUES SR500 Street Trackerlink provided by Chris. One more thing, if you haven't subscribed to BIKE EXIF, you are REALLY missing something. Everyday you will recieve a mail with some very interesting finds and if you love to look at a bike and appreciate customized bikes, then BIKE EXIFis definitely for you. You will find a permanent link of BIKE EXIF in this blog (right side bottom) at BEST OF THE WEB.

A few Hollywood Stars are known for their penchant for motorcycles. It's difficult for them to go riding like us, none the less occasionally and often sniping out. Well, what they lack in privacy, they make up by buying exotics. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and George Clooney are known to be bikers, well while Pitt and Clooney are more into riding, Tom like Jay Leno is more into collecting bikes. Here are some photos of Hollywood stars showing off their priced posessions. Also requesting if someone would have more photos or link so such a post, please send them over (my email is at the bottom of the page) so that I could add to these.

Tom Cruise on a Confederate Hellcat and on the Honda Rune (with wife Katie Holmes)

Keanu Reeves on a Norton Commander and a customized Harley DavidsonBen Affeck on a Suzuki Gixxer and George Clooney on his customized Harley DavidsonBrad Pitt on his customized Harley Davidson and Ecosse HereticJim Carrey on a Harley Davidson and Heidi Klum posing on a Harley CVOAbove 2 pics courtesy Double Oh Two. Thats Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana on DEUS customized bikes. Well, one is ofcourse the Monster, my guess on the second is a Speed Triple.

Correction - The bike Orlando Bloom is riding is not actually a Triumph Triple as I guessed, it's a SR500. I recieved a mail from BIKE EXIFmain man Chris Hunter where he mentioned that "It's a very heavily customized Yamaha SR500 rather than a Street Triple, and the first Deus bike to end up in the USA." For a detail on the bike, visit the DUES SR500 Street Trackerlink provided by Chris. One more thing, if you haven't subscribed to BIKE EXIF, you are REALLY missing something. Everyday you will recieve a mail with some very interesting finds and if you love to look at a bike and appreciate customized bikes, then BIKE EXIFis definitely for you. You will find a permanent link of BIKE EXIF in this blog (right side bottom) at BEST OF THE WEB.

Ducati North America is proud to announce the 848 Nicky Hayden Edition. This striking livery places a distinctly American stamp on the market's best middleweight sport bike. The 848 Nicky Hayden was publically unveiled at the 2009 Red Bull United States Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where Nicky’s MotoGP race bike was presented in a matching scheme. There could be no better time or place to celebrate the American World Champion than at his home race on the 4th of July.This US-exclusive model features an American inspired paint scheme, aptly fit for its introduction on the 4th of July, personally autographed gas tank, and model updates for the 2010 year. Check out the video of the Nicky's photo shoot with the bike below!The new Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition enjoys all the performance advancements of the entire Superbike family, while adding its own innovations to redefine the middleweight sport bike class.The words 'agile' and 'refined' aptly describe the 848. At 168kg (369lbs), the 848 is an amazing 20kg (44lbs) lighter than its predecessor.

An example of “made in Italy” excellence will be showcased with pride at the G8 summit to be held in L’Aquila. The Ducati Desmosedici RR, a true icon of Italian technology and design, has been prepared with a special livery by Ducati and the Fiera Milano, a unique, one-off design.The graphics, suggested by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, incorporate the G8 logo, emphasizing the choice to hold the upcoming summit, from 8 to 10 July, in L’Aquila, the city at the heart of the earthquake that hit the Abruzzo region on 6th April this year.Ducati and the Fiera Milano accepted the invitation to design and create a special version of the most prestigious bike that Ducati has ever produced, the Desmosedici RR – a limited, numbered production run of only 1500 machines that sold out before the bikes were built.A more emblematic and prestigious bike could not have been selected. The Desmosedici RR is a jewel in the crown of Italy’s motorcycle industry, and allows Ducati to compete and win on racetracks all over the world.A bike derived from the MotoGP machine, it is the first real production bike to benefit from the technology and innovation gained by Ducati during its experience racing in the world MotoGP championship, a championship in which the Bologna-based manufacturer took the title with Casey Stoner in 2007.The bike will be exhibited at L’Aquila, inside the building reserved for the representatives of the eight countries that will participate in the summit, as a testimonial of Italian ingenuity and technology. Once the summit concludes, the “Desmosedici RR – G8” will be handed over to the Fiera Milano and auctioned during the 2009 edition of the international EICMA motorcycle trade show, to take place from 10 to 15 November, with proceeds going towards the reconstruction of the Abruzzo region.“We feel a very strong sense of belonging to the Italian community”, declared Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati, “and it makes us very proud to be able to show what we do to the Heads of State and Government that will participate in the G8. At the same time we also want to contribute to the reconstruction of Abruzzo. Ducati and its employees have already shown solidarity in light of the Abruzzo tragedy. This important initiative, carried out with the Fiera Milano, allows us to help in a concrete way. One can count on our prestigious product, and on the strength and notoriety that a brand like Ducati possesses; Ducati is an ambassador of “made in Italy” the world over.”The General Manager of the Fiera Milano S.p.A., Enrico Pazzali, commented, “we have collaborated with Ducati, to bring the Ducati Desmosedici RR to the world stage of the G8 summit, for two reasons. First and foremost out of solidarity for our fellow citizens affected by the terrible earthquake of the 6 April. The beautiful Desmosedici RR-G8 will be auctioned during the Eicma motorcycle show, to take place at Rho-Milano between the 10 and 15 November, and the money raised will go towards the reconstruction of the Abruzzo region. Our second motivation is also linked to Eicma 2009: to bring a shining example of Italian industrial excellence to the attention of opinion makers and consumers alike. A level of excellence that our company, Fiera Milano, also strives to adhere to.”Source: DUCATI through Newsletter

World Ducati Week, September 2010. Save the date.

Warm up your engines and get your heart revving! The greatest Ducati gathering is coming back.The planned date for motorcycle fans of all ages and nationalities to come together is September 2010 at the Misano World Circuit.Four days of non-stop fun are planned: track sessions, official riders and stunts, evening parties, concerts, motorcycle tours, Ducati Factory and Museum visits, historical bikes exhibitions, conferences, and much more.The World Ducati Week2007, the amazing Desmodromic world celebration, was an unprecedented success. There were more than 50,000 presences throughout the event that saw Ducatisti from 28 different nations. WDW means World Ducati Week- the colossal worldwide Ducati rally of thousands of aficionados from dozens of nations.A veritable legion of motorcyclists and motorcycle fans, meeting at the Misano World Circuit in Misano Adriatico, Italy to have fun and celebrate their love for bikes.Since its first edition in 1998, the Misano World Circuit is the perfect backdrop for this celebration of everything that is Ducati. For the occasion, given the prevalence of the well-known main Ducati colour, the circuit turns red from tip to toe, reshaping itself into a "Red Planet" where Ducati fans feel completely at home.The 2007 edition of WDW took place from 28th June to 1st JulySource: DUCATI through Newsletter and WORLD DUCATI WEEK

Ducati North America is proud to announce the 848 Nicky Hayden Edition. This striking livery places a distinctly American stamp on the market's best middleweight sport bike. The 848 Nicky Hayden was publically unveiled at the 2009 Red Bull United States Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where Nicky’s MotoGP race bike was presented in a matching scheme. There could be no better time or place to celebrate the American World Champion than at his home race on the 4th of July.This US-exclusive model features an American inspired paint scheme, aptly fit for its introduction on the 4th of July, personally autographed gas tank, and model updates for the 2010 year. Check out the video of the Nicky's photo shoot with the bike below!The new Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition enjoys all the performance advancements of the entire Superbike family, while adding its own innovations to redefine the middleweight sport bike class.The words 'agile' and 'refined' aptly describe the 848. At 168kg (369lbs), the 848 is an amazing 20kg (44lbs) lighter than its predecessor.

An example of “made in Italy” excellence will be showcased with pride at the G8 summit to be held in L’Aquila. The Ducati Desmosedici RR, a true icon of Italian technology and design, has been prepared with a special livery by Ducati and the Fiera Milano, a unique, one-off design.The graphics, suggested by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, incorporate the G8 logo, emphasizing the choice to hold the upcoming summit, from 8 to 10 July, in L’Aquila, the city at the heart of the earthquake that hit the Abruzzo region on 6th April this year.Ducati and the Fiera Milano accepted the invitation to design and create a special version of the most prestigious bike that Ducati has ever produced, the Desmosedici RR – a limited, numbered production run of only 1500 machines that sold out before the bikes were built.A more emblematic and prestigious bike could not have been selected. The Desmosedici RR is a jewel in the crown of Italy’s motorcycle industry, and allows Ducati to compete and win on racetracks all over the world.A bike derived from the MotoGP machine, it is the first real production bike to benefit from the technology and innovation gained by Ducati during its experience racing in the world MotoGP championship, a championship in which the Bologna-based manufacturer took the title with Casey Stoner in 2007.The bike will be exhibited at L’Aquila, inside the building reserved for the representatives of the eight countries that will participate in the summit, as a testimonial of Italian ingenuity and technology. Once the summit concludes, the “Desmosedici RR – G8” will be handed over to the Fiera Milano and auctioned during the 2009 edition of the international EICMA motorcycle trade show, to take place from 10 to 15 November, with proceeds going towards the reconstruction of the Abruzzo region.“We feel a very strong sense of belonging to the Italian community”, declared Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati, “and it makes us very proud to be able to show what we do to the Heads of State and Government that will participate in the G8. At the same time we also want to contribute to the reconstruction of Abruzzo. Ducati and its employees have already shown solidarity in light of the Abruzzo tragedy. This important initiative, carried out with the Fiera Milano, allows us to help in a concrete way. One can count on our prestigious product, and on the strength and notoriety that a brand like Ducati possesses; Ducati is an ambassador of “made in Italy” the world over.”The General Manager of the Fiera Milano S.p.A., Enrico Pazzali, commented, “we have collaborated with Ducati, to bring the Ducati Desmosedici RR to the world stage of the G8 summit, for two reasons. First and foremost out of solidarity for our fellow citizens affected by the terrible earthquake of the 6 April. The beautiful Desmosedici RR-G8 will be auctioned during the Eicma motorcycle show, to take place at Rho-Milano between the 10 and 15 November, and the money raised will go towards the reconstruction of the Abruzzo region. Our second motivation is also linked to Eicma 2009: to bring a shining example of Italian industrial excellence to the attention of opinion makers and consumers alike. A level of excellence that our company, Fiera Milano, also strives to adhere to.”Source: DUCATI through Newsletter

World Ducati Week, September 2010. Save the date.

Warm up your engines and get your heart revving! The greatest Ducati gathering is coming back.The planned date for motorcycle fans of all ages and nationalities to come together is September 2010 at the Misano World Circuit.Four days of non-stop fun are planned: track sessions, official riders and stunts, evening parties, concerts, motorcycle tours, Ducati Factory and Museum visits, historical bikes exhibitions, conferences, and much more.The World Ducati Week2007, the amazing Desmodromic world celebration, was an unprecedented success. There were more than 50,000 presences throughout the event that saw Ducatisti from 28 different nations. WDW means World Ducati Week- the colossal worldwide Ducati rally of thousands of aficionados from dozens of nations.A veritable legion of motorcyclists and motorcycle fans, meeting at the Misano World Circuit in Misano Adriatico, Italy to have fun and celebrate their love for bikes.Since its first edition in 1998, the Misano World Circuit is the perfect backdrop for this celebration of everything that is Ducati. For the occasion, given the prevalence of the well-known main Ducati colour, the circuit turns red from tip to toe, reshaping itself into a "Red Planet" where Ducati fans feel completely at home.The 2007 edition of WDW took place from 28th June to 1st JulySource: DUCATI through Newsletter and WORLD DUCATI WEEK